Chapter 3
"Our best chance is to sneak in during the Quidditch match," Harry said.
"Damn, I was hoping to catch a peek at the match," began Ron.
"We have much more important things to be doing Ron," Hermione quipped looking at the others, "am I right Harry?"
Harry and Ginny spoke at the same time, "I wanted to watch it too." They began laughing, quickly joined by Ron.
Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered, "Quidditch."
Harry pulled himself together, "Hermione's right though, we have more important things to do. We should enter the castle about the time the game starts, everyone will be focused and we can get inside unnoticed. Is everything set up with Myrtle?
"Yeah, she can't wait to see you," Ron answered. Ginny paled slightly again, and Harry squeezed her hand under the table.
Hermione looked up suddenly, "What if he sends another owl?"
"I hadn't thought of that," he sat quietly for a few seconds, "can you get to a location where you can watch the owlery, but not be spotted yourself?"
"Not a problem," Hermione answered.
"Do it, intercept any messages he tries to send."
"I'm on it."
As she turned to leave Ron called out, "be careful Hermione."
"Always," she called back, and ducked into the tunnel.
"What the hell do we do now?" Harry stared at the wrinkled parchment in his hands. He read it again, the tenth time in two minutes,
The Minister is coming here to talk with the current
Leader of the Order of the Phoenix.
Due to the war, he will have a large guard with him.
This will leave the Ministry of Magic shorthanded.
If we strike now, we can seize the Ministry,
Kill all the Aurors,
And capture the Minister when he returns.
Forward this to as many groups as you can,
I want every available Death Eater in on the attack.
Good Luck,
Until the Dark Lord returns.
Hermione spoke up, "This is a big problem, he sent ten copies, and I was only able to intercept three of them."
"Couldn't we alert the Ministry?" asked Ron.
"They'd ignore it," Harry said flatly, "Wouldn't believe it."
"The order?" asked Ginny.
"Maybe," answered Hermione, "but is the order big enough to fight all of the death eaters, inferi, and whatever else they bring at once?"
"No, but if we alert McGonagall, and she alerts the Aurors in the order, then they in turn alert the rest of the Aurors, then they have a chance of stopping the attack," Harry stated, "but that chance is small at best."
"So what do we do?" asked Hermione.
Harry closed his eyes, looking like he'd swallowed something bitter. "We leave," he said softly, "I hate the idea of leaving a death eater here, but we have no choice. We're needed at the Ministry more.
"Hermione, it's almost time for breakfast, deliver the warning to McGonagall, go in with the owls. Then get back here and on your broom. Go ahead and tell her that Lochrin is a death eater, we'll have to let her deal with him.
"Ron, go to the Ministry now, find a spot, and watch for anyone using the visitors entrance.
"Ginny, fly to Luna's, fill her in on what's going on, get her to contact everybody from the DA that might be willing to help us, but don't stay too long, it'll take time to get the DA there, time we don't have.
"We'll probably reach the Ministry before the death-eaters, but we will get there before anyone from our side. We have little choice, but to try and hold off the attack alone until help arrives."
"What are you going to do?" asked Ginny.
"Several things, I'm going to inform Myrtle of the change in our plans, I'm going to speak with Dobby, I'm going to speak to Hagrid, and I'm going to get a few messages to a couple of old friends.